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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. W. LIGHT.

FEED RACK.

No. 387,892. Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. W. LIGHT.

FEED RACK.

No. 887,892. Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

NiTn Srn'rns GEORGE WV. LIGHT, OF GALLATIN, MISSOURIt FEED=RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,892, dated August14, 1888.,

Application filed February 9, 1888. Serial No. 263,477. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. Llerena citizen of the United States,residing at Gallatin, in the county of Daviess and State of Missouri,have invented new and useful Improvements in Hay-Racks, of which thefollowing is a speciiication.

My invention relates to certain improvements in hay-racks for feedingcattle, horses, mules,and other stock; and the purpose thereof is tosimplify and render more effective the invention made by me for asimilar purpose and covered by Letters Patent granted me January 3,1888, No. 375,624.

It is the special purpose of my present invention to apply to theoctagonal structure shown in my said Letters Patent a feature ofconstruction whereby the mangcrs shall be brought wholly within thecircumscribing wall thereof, and whereby, also, provision is made forthe automatic descent of the stock,its complete consumption, and for theprevention of waste and loss.

It is my further purpose, also, to provide such construction that thedimensions of the stack may be increased to suit the requirements of thenumber of stalls or mangers, and at the same time permit the completeconsumption of the hay.

The invention consists in the several novel features of construction andnew combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, and thendefinitely pointed out in the claims;

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective, partlybroken away, showing my improved feed-rack. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the same.

In the said drawings,the reference-numeral 1 denotes the rack-framecomposed of a series of posts arranged at the angles of an Octagon ofany suitable diameter. From these posts project inwardly a bracket, 2,having an inclination downwardly from the upper portion of each post andhaving its lower end braced by a bar, 3. The several brackets, 2, arearranged in the radial lines of the Octagon, and their lower endstherefore lie in substantially the same plane, and are connected byrails or bars ,having substantially octagonal arrangement, and formingwhat may be called the throat 1 of the rackn Above their lower ends thespaces between the brackets may be filled by boarding 5, which mayterminate at any suitable point short of the point of attachment of therails 4f. Around the outside of the lower ends of the posts 1 of theframe I attach suitable boarding or rails, 6, carried to such a heightas to prevent the stock from standing in the mangers and to retain thewaste hay within the circumscribed wall, and a iiooring, 7, of anysuitable construction can be added, the latter preferably including afeed-rack, 8, upon which the droppings will rest in easy reach of thecattle, while the seed scattered therefrom will drop through the rackbetween its paneled slats and be saved.

Circumferential rails 9 and l() may be added and a top rail, 12, may beattached to the posts 1 but in these features my invention issusceptible of a wide variation.

The space between the boarding 6 and the rail 9 is sufficient to admitthe head of the animal, and as many stalls or mangers are possible asthere are sides to the Octagon. The construction is such that the cattlewill naturally pull the hay from below the contracted throat formed bythe bar et. As the hay is drawn out therefrom the mass above willdescend,fur nishing a constant supply, while the droppings will alwaysfall for the most part within the octagonal wall and thereby be undershelter. Moreover, the cattle being able to stand closely up to thestack, the dimensions of the latter may be materially increased and thewhole still be eaten without incurring the danger of becoming choked orpacked in the throat 4.

The Octagon being the form within which the greatest practical cubiccontents may be stored, it will be seen that my invention provides fortheincreased dimensions of the stack with the most perfect facility ofapproach and withdrawal.

1. A hay-rack consisting of an octagonal flooring having vertical postsrising from its angles, a series of brackets composed of inclined arms2, and diagonal braces 3, mounted on said posts and connected to saidarms, a boarding, 5, attached to said arms, and a railing, 4, saidboarding forming a downwardlycontracted support for the hay having anopen IOO glcs of the Hoor, a series of brackets com` posed 'of inclinedarms 2 and braces 3, supported by the posts, an inner boarding, 5,andrailing 4, inclosing the rack and forming a contracted open throat, saidrack being raised 1 5 above the floor, an outer boarding, 6, and rails9, forming, in conjunction with the posts 1, feed-openings lying partlybelow the throat of the rack,`from which the hay depending from the openthroat may be reached by the stock, zo substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

G. W. LIGHT.

Witnesses: Jos. L. OooMBs,

J. A. RUTHERFORD.

